An unfriendly business climate in Los Angeles County is making employers less optimistic and less likely to hire workers today than they were a year ago, according to a survey released Tuesday.

"California as a whole and L.A. County specifically really need to have a 'We're open for business attitude,' " said Tracy Rafter, CEO of the Los Angeles County Business Federation - BizFed - which published the survey.

For the third consecutive year, the annual poll found that taxes and fees, as well as government regulations, were the two top concerns of businesses. Health care, education and legislative gridlock rounded out the top five concerns.

The survey highlights include:

- 52 percent of businesses believe business conditions this year will be better than last, down nine points from last year's poll.

- 30 percent plan to grow their workforce this year, down from 34 percent last year.

- 16 percent plan layoffs this year, the same as last year.

- 48 percent said they plan to invest in durable goods this year, compared with 33 percent last year.

Streamlining the government permitting process - whether at the state, county or local level - would help move projects forward, thereby creating jobs, Rafter said. For example, some business projects can take many years to navigate the regulatory requirements, whereas in other states they may take much less time, she said. In some cases, a project may receive approval from several governmental departments but then be delayed by another department.

"Why don't they manage that project in the system as a project instead of department by department?" Rafter said. "Why don't they harmonize it? That's a lot of regulation that slows down growth and development and adds costs."

The survey found that 60 percent of respondents described the city of Los Angeles as the region's "least business friendly city."

By contrast, El Segundo, Long Beach, Burbank and Glendale were named among the "most business friendly."

The survey found that 76 percent of businesses responding to the survey call Los Angeles County their "home." However, 80 percent have no plans to expand in the county. And 9 percent plan to leave.

Concerns about health care - the No. 3 top issue - focused on the uncertainty about the Affordable Health Care for America Act, often dubbed Obamacare, which reformed the nation's health-care system.